Drew and Margit McNaughton have created the perfect place for you to disconnect to reconnect. They’ve set up Woodland West as a private facility where you can unwind in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Guests can camp, stay in the Cabin or Treehouse, or rent the 1200 square foot Firseside Room with adjoining 800 sq ft commercial kitchen and entrance area. Woodland West is a great venue for country wedding receptions, family reunions and corporate retreats. It’s conveniently located about an hour southwest of Calgary.

Some of the additional advantages of the Woodland West facilities include catering for meals, breaks, and bar services, yoga stretch breaks from a certified instructor, and hikes on the property or into Kananaskis Country. Additionally, the produce served is grown on the property or locally sourced.

Families are already booking for their family reunions and weddings June through September of 2015. Email info@woodlandwest.ca for an estimate. Overnight and seasonal camping is available mid-May to mid-October. Email info@woodlandwest.ca for more information or visit www.woodlandwest.ca.

As fall gets in full swing, come celebrate with the Lake Louise Fall Festival. There are still two weekends left – the festival ends Sunday, October 5.

There’s a special event at 9 am tomorrow, September 27, called “Autumn Glory: The Secrets of the Alpine Larch Tree – Great Divide Nature Interpretation.”

On Saturday, September 27; Sunday, September 28; Saturday October 4; and Sunday, October 5 you can explore beyond the golden larches. Look for a Parks Canada heritage interpreter at Moraine Lake or the Lake Louise shoreline on most weekend days during Fall Festival.  Share hiking stories and ask for the “Secrets of the Season,” a trivia challenge for you to complete as you enjoy the golden larches and more. It’s FREE with a valid park pass.

Some of the ongoing activities at the festival have been:

• Guided Hikes
• Horseback Trail Rides
• Canoeing
• Lake Louise Tea House Challenge
• Gondola Sightseeing Specials
• Photography Workshops, Courses and Contests
• Suggested Larch Hikes
• Accommodation Packages
• Dining Specials
• Wildlife Presentations

There are also several options for hiking at the top of the scenic sightseeing chairlift at the Lake Louise Gondola. For more information on these trails, visit the Wildlife Interpretive Centre at the Lake Louise Gondola:

Kicking Horse Pass Viewpoint

1.7 km round trip; 49m elevation gain

Ptarmigan Valley Viewpoint

3.4 km round trip; 281m elevation gain

Pika Trail

2.5 km round trip; 140m elevation gain

For a complete list of activities, special offers and experiences visit BanffLakeLouise.com/FallFestival.

Something big will be happening on Banff’s roads this Saturday – it’s the 35th annual Melissa’s Road Race. The race – which begins at the Banff Recreation Grounds – has a 10km course and a 21km course. It’s already sold out with 4,500 participants taking part, but volunteers on still needed. Read on to learn how the event will affect traffic and parking in the area and how you can get involved.

Banff Lake Louise Tourism emailed a special events bulletin with the following road closure and parking information to be aware of.

Road Closures

• Cave Ave. will be closed from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, exceptions for local traffic only.
• The Bow River Bridge will be closed from 10:29 am for 14 mins. (Traffic will then be manually directed to move any backlog as quickly as possible.)
• Otter St. from Wolf St. to Tunnel Mountain Drive, going up the hill will be closed from 10:32 to 10:50 am.
• Tunnel Mountain Drive, between Buffalo Mountain Lodge and The Banff Centre, will be closed from 8 am to 12 noon.
• Buffalo St. from The Banff Centre to Muskrat St. will be one lane traffic only, allowing vehicles to travel from The Banff Centre into downtown. There will be no up-hill traffic allowed from 10:35 am to 12 noon.
• Bow Ave. will only be open to local traffic travelling north in one lane.
• Parking will be allowed on Bow Avenue.
• Wolf St. and Caribou St. between Lynx St. and Bow Ave. will be open for local traffic only.
• The Bow Falls Road will have limited access from 10:35 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
• The road to the Banff Spring Hotel golf clubhouse will be closed to one lane of traffic only. A security vehicle will lead cars to and from the clubhouse and Bow Falls in 15 minute intervals.

Parking

• There will be no parking available at the Banff Recreation Grounds on Saturday September 27.
• The Town of Banff has launched a mobile website to help visitors find parking in town. Visit banffparking.ca to view the available parking spots, directions and time frames.

Volunteering

If you’d like to help with the race, you can volunteer for a variety of positions, including First Aid, water stations, t-shirt distribution, food and beverage, bag check, finish line and course marshalls. Each year over 300 volunteers band together to make the race a success.

All volunteers receive an original art work T-shirt, and 50% off coupon for Melissa’s: Banff’s Original Steak House and Family Restaurant. There is a Volunteer Party on Sunday Sept 28 in Melissa’s Bar, starting at 7 pm, with lots of great food and beverage and many prizes.

To volunteer for Saturday’s event, please contact a Manager at Melissa’s Restaurant, 403-762-5511.

Old man winter may have stopped by for a quick hello earlier than expected this year, but there will still be many grand days to enjoy the mountains before the ski season is upon us.  September and October can be the best months to head to the hills.  The kids are back in school so there is lots of elbow room, no longer any need to swat mosquitoes, the landscapes are stunning – especially the larch trees as they turn golden, and the snow in the valleys has already melted, and the sun is warm & invigorating.  Now is the time to go for a hike, raft tour, horseback ride, or simply stretch.  In this picture, Sandy Pearson a Yoga instructor based in Turner Valley, strikes a pose in the Sheep River Provincial Park, with the glistening mountain peaks of Kananaskis Country in the background.

The “New” Rafter Rafter Six® Resort is offering plenty of opportunities this autumn for horse enthusiasts and campers to “get back in the saddle.” The Cowley Family had to close Rafter Six® last year due to financial challenges, but they’ve reopened the Ranch thanks to the generosity and support of many friends. The Rafter Six® Ranch Resort now sits adjacent to its previous property.

Autumn is the perfect time to experience the magnificent scenery of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in a tranquil environment. Come enjoy the peaceful setting and the genuine hospitality of the Rocky Mountain Riding Specialists. Experience Wilderness Camping and Horseback Riding at Rafter® Six through October 31.

Horseback Riding options include:

• pony rides for children
• 1 hour rides
• 1 ½ hour intermediate rides
• 2 hour rides
• ½ Day Rides
• All Day Rides
• Custom Rides
• Saddlebag Rides
• Carriage and  Wagon Rides are all available by reservation at (403) 673-3622

Wilderness Camping is also available at Rafter Six® for self-contained units such as RV’s, motorhomes, travel trailers, truck campers. There are no hook-ups available, but you’ll be able to enjoy the best of nature and the genuine hospitality of the Cowley Family and Staff.

Rafter Six® will close for the winter after October 31 but will reopen spring of 2015!

Kids are back in school, but there’s still time for adults to enjoy some amazing sights in Southern Alberta. Check out our webpage 2014 Southern Alberta’s Heritage Tours for inspiring trip planning guidance. We’ve provided a map of both the Canadian Badlands Circle Tour and the Crown of the Continent Circle Tour. Both loop tours lead you to a variety of sites. As an added bonus, if you book a hotel stay with Canalta Hotels noted on the map you will receive a free admission to one of the heritage attractions we’ve featured this year. (Visit www.canaltahotels.com/  or call 1-877-677-2365)

Our 2014 Southern Alberta Heritage Tours also features short descriptions of the destinations in this year’s suggested tours. Destinations include the Royal Tyrrell Museum filled with dinosaur replicas, the Heritage Park Historical Village (which is Canada’s largest living history museum), and the historic mansion Lougheed House National and Provincial Historic Site.

You can also use these tours to jump-start your trip planning. There are many more great locations to visit along the way as you travel! We’ve included contact information for many of the destinations on our tour to help you with your trip planning. Happy trails!

Royal Tyrrell Museum

Heritage Park Historical Village

Lougheed House National and Provincial Historic Site

The 2014 Outdoor Fest YYC  is just under a month away. Now is the time to make plans for this fun celebration of the outdoors on September 20.

Trade Show

The trade show features the Clubs & Members area and the Commercial Trade Show area. It’s a great opportunity to promote your group. You’ll be able to set up a 6 foot display table from 10 am – 6 pm for only $50. Businesses also have the opportunity to sell their goods in 10×10 foot areas in the Commercial Trade Show area.

Photo Contest

Enter your best photo of the great outdoors by September 11 to give you the chance to win an amazing prize from The Camera Store. The Grand Prize winner will receive Pentax K-50 Black 18-135mm kit, Intro to Photography Class by The Camera Store, Pentax DCF BC 9×32 Binoculars. Runner up will receive a  Ricoh WG-4 GPS and Intro to Photography Class by The Camera Store. Winners also receive a framed print of their winning photo!

Info Sessions and Activities

Share your expertise with festival attendees or get them involved in a cool group activity. The info sessions already lined up for the day include a laser riffle trial with Alberta Biathlon, a Search & Rescue talk by Adventure Smart, bear awareness, navigation and bike maintenance 101.

Silent Auction

This auction will benefit the Calgary Area Outdoor Council, which is holding the Outdoor Fest YYC. Proceeds will support the Council’s  advocacy and communication for the benefit of the self-propelled outdoor recreation community. Donate today or contact friends and businesses who may be interested in donating.

Visit the Outdoor Fest YYC website for more details and contact information!

Are you looking to advertise to more tourists and locals? An advertisement in the 2015 Jasper map is a great way to reach a broader audience. We’re gearing up to go into production for the 2015 edition of The Jasper Map. It is used extensively as a counselling tool by information centre staff in Jasper and across the region, and advertising space usually sells out quickly. Now’s the time to reserve your space in the next issue of this very popular fold-out map of Jasper National Park. Click here for more information on advertising in the 2015 Jasper Map.

The non-profit Friends of Fish Creek organization is planning some fun and education events, including a “running week” beginning August 16.

Three Running and Walking Clinics will be held in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Each session is only $10 and also includes a $10 coupon for Running Room! Participants will learn how to train and prevent injury, pick up valuable nutritional tips, get advice on buying shoes and much more information to help ensure they have a safe and fun season. Clinics are hosted by Running Room Shawnessy. Note that registration is required.

Clinics will be held on:

• Saturday, August 16 12:00pm – 1:00pm (Running Clinic)
• Tuesday, August 19 12:00pm – 1:00pm (Walking Clinic)
• Thursday, August 21 6:00pm – 7:00pm (Running Clinic)

Click here to register.

If you’re move of an artist than an athlete, mark your calendar for a Photography Tour with local photographer Bob Bakker. You’ll learn the theory behind taking great photos on your SLR camera in the stunning beauty of the park. You’ll get to ride a minibus to various locations in the park to learn to the principles for capturing everything from expansive landscapes to macro images of tiny flower buds.

The August Tours are already full, but tours are still available on:

• Saturday, September 6 (9:00am – 11:30am)
• Thursday, September 11 from 3:00pm – 5:30pm
• and Saturday, October 4 from 9:00am – 11:30am.

Rain Dates are scheduled for each tour. The cost for a tour is $25. Click here to register.

Also the Autumn Birding Course begins September 1!

One of our previous photo contest winners has provided an update about how much he enjoyed his prize! In the spring of 2013 James Anderson of Calgary Alberta won one of our prizes in the Experience the Mountain Parks “RECESS IS BACK” 2012 Photo Contest. He won the Grand Prize in the Flowers & Wildlife Category.

• 2 night stay at The Banff Aspen Lodge
• 4 tickets for the Sulphur Mountain Gondola and the Banff Lake Cruise provided by Brewster Attractions
• $50 Gift Certificate for The Old Spaghetti Factory
• Set of 3 guide books authored by Graeme Pole
• Guided Hike with Graeme Pole (priceless)
• 20 min Family Trail Ride with Timberline Tours
• Hiking Boots for a family of 4 provided by Keen Canada – approx. retail value $800

James especially enjoyed the hiking boots. He wrote to us saying, “I attached a couple of images of my wife and I on a hike in Glacier National Park which show off a pair of the boots we received from Keen taking on the rugged terrain…the boots worked out really well as we happen to be hiking during the first snowfall of the year and kept our toes comfy warm 🙂 ”

Be sure to check out the 2014 Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest and the 2014 Experience the Cowboy Trail Photo Contest for the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes of your own!

James Anderson’s mountain boots

James Anderson’s wife wearing her mountain boots

James Anderson in his mountain boots